Process for burning oil insoluble sludge



Oct. 9, 1934. P, 0, VANDEVEER 5 1,976,528

PROCESS FOR BURNING OIL INSOLUBLE SLUDGE \\1 Filed Now/n.1, 1929 5' -acid sludge and other oil bearing materials which l l ducts.

1I liversoon separates out of such a mixture.

Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOB BURNING INSOLUBLE SLUDGE f I ren-y o. vmaeveer, Whiting, 1nd., signor u Standard Oil Company, Chicago,`lll., a corporation of Indiana Application November 1, 1929, Serial No. 404,192

' v 3 claim. l(ci. 15s-117.5)

This invention relates to a process for utilizing waste and/or obnoxious by-products from the refining and treating of mineral oils and it pertainsmore particularly to a method for burning cannot be burned by ordinary methods.

The object of my invention is to provide a meth- "od and means of utilizing the fuel value of oleum liver, acid sludges, and similar renery by-pro- Oleum liver has a composition of about 30 to 40% sulfonic and sulfuric acids, 10 to 20% oil, and the rest water. Since it is practically impossible to burn-this mixture, attempts have been made to mix it vwith burning oils. 'I'he oleum 0f course, the mixture could be maintained by agita.- tion but the expense of this procedure is prohibitive. The attempt to spray the sludge against a hot brick wall in a furnace and thereby effect a complete combustion proved unsatisfactory. The

object of my invention is to accomplish results which have been hitherto believed impossible, to Wit: the complete economical utilization of the heat value of these waste by-products.

n2li My invention may be brieiiy characterized as a process wherein fuel oil is intimately mixed with acid sludge at the point where the oil and sludge enter a' furnace. As thel mixture enters theafu'rnace, I atomize 'it with steam and I have found that the fuel oil will initiate combustion and com-` pletely burn the acid sludge. As soon as the temperature in the furnace is sumciently elevated I may reduce the amount of fuel oil and finally I :my maintain combustion by the introduction of sludge alone, atomized, of course, with steam.

' My invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the noules and the atomizer and Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through the nozzle end adjusting screws.

The apparatus used in commotion with my invention is-relatively simple and may be briefly pipe 10.

The partitioned pipe 10 may be of brass of about 3/4 diameter and may have a iiat rectangular strip l5 brazed at its center to divide the pipe into two sections 16 and 17 respectively. The pipe l0 is preferably closed'- at the end opposite the nozzle by a suitable end plate 18, which is provided with threaded plugs 19 and 20 which may be removed for cleaning out the nozzle when it be comes clogged.

A threaded sleeve 21 surrounds pipe l0 .and car-ries threaded collar 22 which engages one end of steam inlet T 23. The opposite end of T 23 engages the steam casing 24 which is centered around pipe 10 by set screws 25. The opening between the tapered casing 24 and the tapered end of pipe 10 is regulated by Ameans of spacing collar 22 which is movable backwards and forwards on sleeve 2l. Steam is supplied to the T 23 through pipe 26.

l By employing a partitioned pipe to provide conduits for sludge and oil, I simplify the connections to the supply lines for these liquids. I also avoid the use of a-conduit of attentuated cross section resulting from the disposal of one pipe within another. 'I'his is a distinct advantage in preventing clogging by the heavy sludge and fuel oil. Both conduits are directly subjected to the heating action of the surrounding steam, likewise assisting in preventing clogging of the burner. Both oil and sludge are subjected to the same atomizing action. I employ the word adJacent" to describe the lateral arrangement of the oil and sludge conduits of my burner to distinguish from the circumjacent arrangement resulting from the placing of one pipe within another.

Practically all petroleum oils contain large amounts of unsaturated hydrocarbons which form tar-like materials upon being treated with acid and which must be removed before the oils can be used commercially. The oils are therefore treated by mixing them with concentrated and/or fuming sulfuric acid. 'I'he details of this treatment are well known in the petroleum industry and since they form no part of my present invention they will not be described in detail.

After treatment adirty sludge separates out at the bottom of the oil and it is this acid sludge, which has an oil content of from 10 to 20%. which I use in my invention. However, it is und'erstood. that I do not limit myself to any particular by-product and my invention is applicable and 17 of pipe 10. Simultaneously steam is admitted through pipe 26 and it passes around pipe 10 in casing 24. The'position of the casing is such that the steam leaving the nozzle completely atomizes the mixture of fuel oil and sludge. When this atomized mixture is ignited it will burn readily. As the temperature of the furnace increases valves 13A and 14A are regulated to decrease the amount of fuel oil and increase the amount of acid sludge. Finally the furnace may be heated entirely by the use of acid sludge.

By the relatively simple expedients abovedescribed .1. am enabled to supply substantially all of the heat required for a petroleum renery by utilizing by-products `which have hitherto been considered worthless as far as fuel value was concerned.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I am not limited to the details therein set forth except as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. 'I'he process of burning oil insoluble acid sludge obtained from the rening of oils with acid which consists of injecting a stream of acid sludge and a stream of fuel oil into. a combustion chamber, and in simultaneously atomizing and intermingling the vsludge and oil to form acombustible mixture.

2. The process ofburning oil insoluble acid.

kized oilto form a combustible mixture.

3. The process of burning oil insoluble acid sludge obtained from the refining of oils with` acid whichconsists of forming a mixture of atomized fuel oil and finely divided sludge thoroughly commingled therewith, igniting the mixture so.

formed and in subsequently reducing the quantty of fuel oil making up the mixture.

PERRY 0. VANDEVEER. 

